News

March 31, 2017

Show your Support for Human Rights in China

Join us in Ottawa tomorrow for this incredible opportunity to raise awareness! An all-party co-sponsored screening of THE BLEEDING EDGE will take place during the 6th Annual Parliamentary Forum on Religious Freedom on the topic of China and Religious Freedom: Stories and Perspectives. Hosted by MPs from all three major Canadian political parties and followed by a discussion on the topic of human rights in China with ANASTASIA LIN.

Your huge show of support and attendance will tell lawmakers that they must confront China and demand an end to the practice of forced organ harvesting.

“I’m talking about organs being taken from prisoners of conscience, meaning citizens who have not done anything wrong but to speak their mind and believe what they believe in. It’s like innocent citizens being killed for their organs and their body parts sold for profits. It’s happening and people need to pay attention to it,” – Anastasia Lin, CBC, Dec 15 2016

Anastasia Lin was denied entry into China because of her outspoken criticism of China’s abuses against human rights. She, along with some other special guests, will be in attendance to highlight Canada’s outspoken advocacy for international human rights.

Unstoppable: The Bleeding Edge premieres amidst controversy in Washington DC and is now available on iTunes

After major coverage erupted about Anastasia Lin — activist, two-time reigning Miss World Canada, and star of The Bleeding Edge — being embargoed from her own media interviews during the Miss World pageant, the planned premiere of the film still took place in Washington, DC with the beauty queen in attendance.

“I have not been silenced so I hope that after watching this film, your voices will join mine.”

Lin’s award-winning portrayal of a real life prisoner of conscience, brutalized by the Chinese regime, almost got silenced. As reported in The Boston Globe, distribution has not been easy for The Bleeding Edge because of the sensitive subject matter and China’s soft power tactics influencing Hollywood. Up until now the film was only available at private screenings, but this month it was launched across North America on iTunes and is for sale on DVD-Bluray. It is also available internationally on TUGG, a platform that allows people to organize their own screenings.

Based on true events, The Bleeding Edge’s heart-stopping action and shocking plot-twists take viewers deep into the chilling world of the Chinese regime, exposing the terrifying truth behind China’s live organ harvesting and how, aided by western tech companies, a vast censorship and surveillance network was developed to silence and terrorize a nation. Something they continue to do to this day.

The Bleeding Edge is a narrative thriller by Canadian director Leon Lee, who won a Peabody Award in 2015 for his documentary Human Harvest, about the horrors of forced organ harvesting in China. In The Bleeding Edge, Canadian beauty queen Anastasia Lin portrays a Falun Gong practitioner who is imprisoned for her spiritual beliefs and suffers human rights atrocities in a Chinese labour camp. Ms. Lin received a 2016 Leo Award for Best Actress for her powerful performance in The Bleeding Edge, which was also the recipient of the coveted 2016 Gabriel Award for Best Film. Earlier this year, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt. Honorable John Bercow MP, hosted fellow politicians and guests of honour at the UK premiere of The Bleeding Edge in the British House of Parliament at the Speaker’s House.

Actress and activist Anastasia Lin with director of The Bleeding Edge Leon Lee.

Now is your chance to find out the whole story behind the controversy and why this film is so dangerous to China. Watch it today. This year’s Miss World pageant will be held on December 18th in Washington, DC, tune in to see if Anastasia Lin will finally get her rightful chance at the crown.

A very successful screening at VAFF

On Nov. 5, in Vancouver, the Canadian premiere of The Bleeding Edge took centre stage at the 20th annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival as its Centrepiece Presentation, to a full house at the Cineplex Odeon International Village. The star of the film, current Miss World Canada Miss Anastasia Lin, received the festival’s People’s Choice Award for ‘Best Overall Performance’.

In the run-up to the event, director Leon Lee was interviewed by Global TV and Roundhouse Radio about the true events surrounding forced organ harvesting in China that inspired the film and how screenings like this can make a meaningful impact.

After the screening, the Leo Award’s president Walter Daroshin read a statement from the Leo Awards jury who, earlier this year, awarded The Bleeding Edge’s star Anastasia Lin Best Actress in a Television Movie.

“… sometimes a Jury encounters work that is not only excellent but also elevates the form and contributes to the craft in a meaningful and lasting way. Anastasia Lin’s work was vulnerable, courageous, skilled and determined. Her fearlessness and integrity were acutely visible and dearly felt by the Jury arising from her unwavering commitment to the issues addressed in the story. It was the Jury’s privilege to encounter her work and this film.”

The evening’s moderator, actress from The Bleeding Edge, Susie Lee, opened the forum to questions from the audience. But first, the film’s director, Leon Lee, expressed his gratitude to everyone who helped make the film possible and informed the 300-strong crowd of the recent new developments since the film’s release including its successful UK premiere and recent political developments.

“I’m grateful to the 20th Vancouver Asian Film Festival for all of their efforts in making our premiere run smoothly and so successfully. It was a memorable occasion. Thank you also for helping to bring awareness to the important cause in the film and for the recognition for Anastasia Lin’s performance.”

There were many cast and crew members in attendance for whom the premiere represented more than a milestone in their careers — they were proud to have helped bring such a vital and urgent story to the big screen. Some were visibly moved after the screening and the atmosphere was one of hope and optimism that the subject of the film, the forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience in China, could eventually be history.

Gallery of the event:

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October 28, 2016

The Bleeding Edge premieres in Canada

The Vancouver-produced thriller that made international headlines but China doesn’t want you to see, The Bleeding Edge, will be screening at the Vancouver Asian Film Festivalas the Centerpiece Presentation, on November 5th at 7:00pm at International Village Cinemas. The Bleeding Edge is a narrative feature by Vancouver director Leon Lee, who won a Peabody Award in 2015 for his documentary Human Harvest, about the horrors of forced organ harvesting in China. The Bleeding Edge is also nominated for a VAFF 2016 Best Canadian Feature Award.

“We are delighted to be screening the film here in Vancouver where it was created,” says director Leon Lee. “After our successful premiere at UK Parliament last month, we have seen first hand the transformative power that this film can have. As a direct result of MPs attending the screening of The Bleeding Edge, political action is now being taken in the UK against forced organ harvesting in China. We are hoping that we can have a similar effect here.”

The film stars Chinese-born Canadian actress Anastasia Lin, winner of Miss World Canada 2015. Ms. Lin, an outspoken campaigner for human rights in China, was banned from competing in the Miss World final in Sanya, China last year and denied entry to the country because of her political activism. Ms. Lin will be competing again in the upcoming 2016 Miss World pageant in Washington DC, where she hopes to claim the crown she was denied in 2015.

In the film, Ms. Lin portrays a Falun Gong practitioner who is imprisoned for her spiritual beliefs and suffers human rights atrocities in a Chinese labour camp. Ms. Lin received a 2016 Leo Awardfor Best Actress for her powerful performance in The Bleeding Edge, which was also the recipient of the coveted 2016 Gabriel Award for Best Film. Ms Lin was recently interviewed on BBC World News about the UK premiere of The Bleeding Edge. Watch it here

The Bleeding Edge takes place during the onset of internet censorship and surveillance in communist China, when western tech companies created software to monitor the activities of Chinese citizens. The fate of a young mother (Lin), imprisoned in a labour camp for her spiritual beliefs, reveals the project had a far more sinister motive. This film exposes the chilling truth about how the surveillance system in China continues to terrorize and silence a nation.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. Since 1997, VAFF has become the longest-running Asian film festival in Canada, promoting and celebrating the diversity and depth of Asian culture and empowering Asian actors and filmmakers to help shape mainstream culture.

To buy tickets: http://festival.vaff.org/2016/events/nov5-program-7/

September 9, 2016

British Parliament Moved by UK Premiere of The Bleeding Edge

On Sept 6, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt. Honorable John Bercow MP, hosted fellow politicians and guests of honour at the UK premiere of The Bleeding Edge in the British House of Parliament at the Speaker’s House. Miss World Canada Anastasia Lin, star of the film, spoke to the audience about the ongoing crime against humanity depicted in the film: The forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience in China. Guests at the event included Jim Shannon MP, Fiona Bruce MP and Lord Alton of Liverpool MP alongside other prominent parliamentarians, as well as President and CEO of the Canada Media Fund, Valerie Creighton.

A panel discussion was held after the screening with the film’s director Leon Lee, executive producer Jason Loftus, Miss World Canada Anastasia Lin, world-renowned human rights investigator Ethan Guttman and writer and human rights activist Benedict Rogers. The post-film discussion centred on how researchers from both the US and Canada have amassed volumes of evidence pointing to the existence of the atrocity of forced organ harvesting in China, and how it was more important than ever to put an end to the crime. The screening was widely attended by members of the House of Commons and House of Lords, suggesting that positive change could eventually be achieved.

Just been at the the UK premiere of The Bleeding Edge film about organ harvesting in China. Truly horrifying.

Although a lot more effort is needed before we see an end to the human rights violations occurring in China, a promising step came on Sept. 8, two days after the screening, when Lord Alton of Liverpool cited The Bleeding Edge while introducing a debate in the House of Lords, on the promotion of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Excerpt:“Earlier this week,” pointed out Lord Alton, “Mr. Speaker hosted the premiere of The Bleeding Edge – drawing attention to the harvesting of organs of Falun Gong practitioners in China.” Click here for the full debate.

Another indication of hope on the horizon came from Leon Lee, the film’s director who won a Peabody Award for his documentary Human Harvest, who said: “..one MP stood up as the film ended to express his wish to introduce a resolution condemning forced organ harvesting in China.”

If passed, such a bill would follow in the footsteps of United States House Resolution 343 and UK lawmakers could match Sweden, Taiwan, Spain, and Israel if they make participation in the forced organ transplant industry illegal for UK citizens.

UPDATE: On Oct. 10, we were happy to learn that Fiona Bruce and five other British MPs sponsored the Early day motion 502 “Forced Organ Harvesting in China”. Within three days, the motion had already garnered 18 signatures.

The screening was a wonderful opportunity to increase awareness of the pressing human rights issues in China. Of the work that lies ahead, filmmakers and the star Anastasia Lin are prepared to continue their crusade until change is achieved. Says Anastasia Lin: “This is only the beginning!”

Miss World Canada Screens Film on China’s Organ Harvest During G20

Miss World Canada to premiere new film on China’s forced organ harvesting at UK Parliament during PM Theresa May’s first visit to China for the G20 Summit.

A new film depicting China’s barbaric practice of forced organ harvesting will be shown in the British Parliament, hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, The Rt Hon John Bercow MP, on Tuesday 6 September at 6pm. The screening coincides with the G20 summit in China, which is stirring international criticism with regards to pressing human rights concerns in the host country. UK Parliamentarians from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will be attending the film premiere as well as prominent human rights activists and media.

The film, The Bleeding Edge, stars Chinese-born Canadian actress Anastasia Lin, winner of Miss World Canada 2015. Ms. Lin, an outspoken campaigner for human rights in China, was banned from competing in the Miss World final in Sanya, China last year and denied entry to the country because of her political activism. Ms. Lin will be competing again in the upcoming Miss World pageant where she hopes to claim the crown she was denied in 2015. This is the first time a contestant has competed twice in the Miss World pageant. Earlier this year she testified in the British Parliament about the persecution of religious minorities and the practice of forced organ harvesting.

The Speaker of the House of Commons said: “I had the immense privilege of meeting Anastasia Lin earlier this year, and I am both delighted to be hosting the London premiere of The Bleeding Edge and very much looking forward to the screening.”

The Bleeding Edge is a narrative thriller by Canadian director Leon Lee, who won a Peabody Award in 2015 for his documentary Human Harvest, about the horrors of forced organ harvesting in China. In the film, Ms. Lin portrays a Falun Gong practitioner who is imprisoned for her spiritual beliefs and suffers human rights atrocities in a Chinese labour camp. Ms. Lin received a 2016 Leo Award for Best Actress for her powerful performance in The Bleeding Edge, which was also the recipient of the coveted 2016 Gabriel Award for Best Film.

“I’m very honoured to be invited by the Speaker of the House of Commons to screen The Bleeding Edge in the United Kingdom Parliament,” says Ms. Lin. “The film tells the incredible story of the victims of human rights abuse in China, whom I had the honour of interviewing in preparation for the role, and who revealed the most profound vulnerability and courage that human beings can possess. Everyone involved, from the cast to the crew, has taken a personal risk to create this film. This screening will hopefully bring awareness to the issue of forced organ harvesting in China which deserves urgent attention from the international community.”

The Bleeding Edge to Premiere at UK Parliament Sept 6

Miss World Canada Anastasia Lin to premiere new film on China’s forced organ harvesting, hosted by UK’s Speaker of the House of Commons, ahead of her second Miss World finals.

A new film depicting China’s barbaric practice of forced organ harvesting will be shown in the British Parliament, hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, The Rt Hon John Bercow MP, on Tuesday 6 September at 6pm. Prominent UK Parliamentarians from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as academics, activists and media are expected to attend the event.

The film, The Bleeding Edge, stars Chinese-born Canadian actress Anastasia Lin, winner of Miss World Canada 2015. Ms. Lin, an outspoken campaigner for human rights in China, was banned from competing in the Miss World final in Sanya, China last year and denied entry to the country because of her political activism. Ms. Lin will be competing again in the upcoming Miss World pageant where she hopes to claim the crown she was denied in 2015. This is the first time a contestant has competed twice in the Miss World pageant. Earlier this year she testified in the British Parliament about the persecution of religious minorities and the practice of forced organ harvesting.

The Speaker of the House of Commons said: “I had the immense privilege of meeting Anastasia Lin earlier this year, and I am both delighted to be hosting the London premiere of The Bleeding Edge and very much looking forward to the screening.”

The Bleeding Edge is a narrative thriller by Canadian director Leon Lee, who won a Peabody Award in 2015 for his documentary Human Harvest, about the horrors of forced organ harvesting in China. In the film, Ms. Lin portrays a Falun Gong practitioner who is imprisoned for her spiritual beliefs and suffers human rights atrocities in a Chinese labour camp. Ms. Lin received a 2016 Leo Award for Best Actress for her powerful performance in The Bleeding Edge, which was also the recipient of the coveted 2016 Gabriel Award for Best Film.

“I’m very honoured to be invited by the Speaker of the House of Commons to screen The Bleeding Edge in the United Kingdom Parliament,” says Ms. Lin. “The film tells the incredible story of the victims of human rights abuse in China, whom I had the honour of interviewing in preparation for the role, and who revealed the most profound vulnerability and courage that human beings can possess. Everyone involved, from the cast to the crew, has taken a personal risk to create this film. This screening will hopefully bring awareness to the issue of forced organ harvesting in China which deserves urgent attention from the international community.”

Miss World Canada, Anastasia Lin, Wins a Leo Award for her Stunning Performance in The Bleeding Edge

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For immediate release:

June 6th, 2016

Anastasia Lin, Controversial Miss World Canada, Wins Best Actress at the Leo Awards, Western Canada’s most Prestigious Film Gala

The reigning Miss World Canada who was prevented from competing in China at the 2015 pageant final, is now a Best Actress winner thanks to her performance in The Bleeding Edge, a feature length thriller from Vancouver’s Peabody Award-winning director Leon Lee about prisoners of conscience in China. The 2016 Leo Awards are BC’s highest film accolade, the ceremony was held on June 5th at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver.

Anastasia Lin accepted the 2016 Leo Award for Best Female Lead Performance in a TV Movie by honouring the victims of forced organ harvesting in China, a subject which is brought to light in the film. The Bleeding Edge, which is based on true events, sees Lin play a Falun Gong practitioner who is imprisoned for her spiritual beliefs and subjected to human rights atrocities in a labour camp. The role was dear to her heart:

“I feel like I’m receiving this award on behalf of the incredible cast and crew of the Bleeding Edge, they each made tremendous sacrifice to be in the production.” She said, “I also want to thank the victims of this human rights abuse, who I interviewed for this film. They opened up their scars to show me the most profound fear and most incredible courage human beings can possess.”

Anastasia Lin made global headlines in 2015 when she was prevented from competing in the Miss World beauty pageant in China because of her outspoken political views condemning the communist government. She refuses to be silenced and continues to push boundaries and speak up against human rights abuse in her native country.

“Her passion and courage is unrivalled which is brought to life in her stunning performance.” says director Leon Lee, “We hope The Bleeding Edge continues to bring awareness and hope for the victims of these terrible crimes.”

The Bleeding Edge is Lin’s first leading role since being barred from the Miss World final, and her first win for best actress. The film will be released across Canada later this year by Flying Cloud Productions and was recently the recipient of the 2016 Gabriel Award for Best Film.

The Leo Awards were founded in 1999 by the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of British Columbia, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to celebrate and promote the achievements of the British Columbia film and television industry.

April 28, 2016

MISS WORLD CANADA BARRED FROM CHINA: HER ‘BIG SCREEN’ RESPONSE WINS GABRIEL AWARD FOR BEST FILM

The film that made international headlines but that China doesn’t want you to see, The Bleeding Edge, has just won the 51st annual Gabriel Award for Best Drama in the Best Film category. The Gabriel Awards honour “outstanding artistic achievement in media that entertains and enriches with a true vision of humanity and a true vision of life.” and are presented by the US-based Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals.

This is the first film that actress Anastasia Lin, the controversial Miss World Canada, has starred in since she was denied entry into China during the 2015 Miss World pageant because of her political beliefs. Her story sparked interest around the world earlier this year and was featured on CNN, NBC, and in TIME, People, The Guardian, among others. She is an outspoken human rights advocate, especially with regards to her native China, which shines through in her stunning performance in The Bleeding Edge.

“I’m just one out of many – cast, crew, director, producers, everyone – who made a conscious choice to participate in this project and who made sacrifices in order to create this important film and do it extremely well,” Lin says. “The film’s creators are not only real artists, they’re courageous and full of integrity. We owe so much to the survivors who suffered so terribly, who opened up their scars again, and were willing to tell us everything that happened.”

The director of The Bleeding Edge, Leon Lee, who won a Peabody Award last year for his documentary Human Harvest, is extremely grateful for the Gabriel Award and hopes the exposure will help educate people on the subject matter. He says “I’m thrilled to be recognized by such a long-standing academy that is propelled by inspirational values.”

About The Bleeding Edge:
The Bleeding Edge is a thought-provoking thriller that takes place during the onset of internet censorship and surveillance in communist China, when the Golden Shield Project was developed by western tech companies to monitor the activities of Chinese citizens. The fate of a young mother (Lin), imprisoned in a labour camp for her spiritual beliefs, reveals that the project has a far more sinister motive.

About the Gabriel Awards:
The 51st annual Gabriel Awards will be presented at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, St. Louis, Missouri, on Thursday, June 2, 2016. Past winners include ABC, NBC, CBS, CBC, Discovery etc. Entrants go through a highly selective process of screening and blue ribbon judging.

January 16, 2016

Golden Shield Lawsuit Reignited?

Pressure is mounting to re-open a class action lawsuit seeking to hold a US tech corporation accountable for aiding in human rights abuses in China. Find out more about the true events that inspired The Bleeding Edge and how the victims may finally get their day in court.